Stella Mae Tinsley

Stella Mae Tinsley was born on Monday, November 19, 1928 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  She was baptized as a very young age where she was a devoted member of New Hope Baptist Church.  At that time The Reverend Luke Beard was the pastor.

Stella had one sister Eunice Lee Slaughter.  She called her baby sister.  She told the story over and over again how her mother went into labor in the home and she peaked through the keyhole of the door and bravely watched her sister being delivered by a midwife.  She said, “I just wanted to make sure she was alright”.

Stella had a sister named Clementine who was two years old who preceded her as well as a sister who was stillborn.

Stella’s family was very musically inclined and was known as the Lee family.  Her singing ability was enhanced early in the church.  Her father was a deacon, an uncle played the guitar, uncles sang and her grandmother played the piano.

Stella attended TJ Harris High School in Meridian, Mississippi, sang in all the events that they presented and was a popular student.  At any given moment an event was scheduled, Stella Mae was the singer.  She loved to perform.

Stella’s father excelled in the Masonry Business and her mother, Lessie Mae Lee was available at home to assist and manage within the home.

Stella always told about how her father Ulysses C. Lee had a Masonry Business as well as a store.  She indicated that her father allowed her to work at the sore after school and she was very generous to her classmates with candy and store products.  At the time her dad laughed and told her that she was not selling but in return giving away all the profits to her friends.

Due to her academic IQ she graduated at TJ Harris High School at the age of thirteen.

Her family had a strong bond with the Tuskegee University.  A college degree was very important.  She had uncles who were Tuskegee Airmen as well as family who were Alumni on the board at Tuskegee University.

Stella loved children and felt that nutrition was a crucial factor in the growth and development of children in the US and abroad.  She later studied Commercial Dietetics at the Tuskegee University.

Stella was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William C. Tinsley.  During their marriage when you saw one you saw the other.

The two of them loved eating occasionally at MCL as well as Bob Evans Restaurants.  Her favorite saying to Bill was, “You are going to get it”.

Stella loved her family.  She gave birth to eight children, two deceased.  She was a mother and a true friend to her children. She was very protective mother and would give her life for her children.  During their young age she was very supportive of them.  Her favorite thing that she said to her kids was, “If you don’t do nothing, you better do something”.

Stella also had a favorite one and only niece, Barbara and a deceased nephew, Byron who she loved dearly.  Stella was always told that her niece had a strong resemblance to her.  She loved her niece and they were in communication daily.

Stella also has a sister Eunice Lee Slaughter in Chicago and two other siblings in Meridian, MS, a step brother who is an Emergency Physician in Florida and a step sister who is a Family Practice Physician in Atlanta, GA and a host of relatives that reside in various states.

Stella contracted Glaucoma in the early 80’s which was undetected which led to extensive nerve damage in her eyes and was a major contributing factor of her losing her sight and becoming blind.

However, during this time she had an Excellent Glaucoma Specialist named Dr. William Whitson who was very instrumental in her coping with this traumatic eye disease.  She also received a cornea transplant from an undisclosed donor.

She will leave a memorial contribution to Whitson Vision to be given to someone struggling with care due to loss of vision.

Public visitation will be Monday, June 28, 2021 from 10 am to 1 pm with services at 1 pm at Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park North.  Burial will follow at Washington Park North Cemetery.